VESSEL REVIEW | Osprey – Catamaran vessel to take on nearshore and offshore marine research on US East Coast
The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) welcomed the aluminium research catamaran Osprey to its fleet in September 2026 to support coastal and offshore science, instrument deployment and education from its Center for Marine Science in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Osprey was built to a design by New Zealand-based naval architecture firm Teknicraft Design. The vessel measures 23.8 metres (78.1 feet) in extreme length, with an 8.1-metre (27-foot) moulded beam and a draught of only 1.85 metres (6.07 feet).
The US$7.5 million, state-funded vessel replaces the 65-foot (210-metre) Cape Fear as UNCW’s primary research platform. The older vessel was a commercial fishing boat acquired by the university in 1997 and subsequently converted for scientific work.
Osprey was launched for systems checks in May 2026, with sea trials beginning in June. She then travelled via Florida on her delivery voyage before joining the UNCW fleet.
Foil system guaranteeing greater operating efficiency
Teknicraft Design’s Nic de Waal described Osprey as the fifth unit in an existing 73-foot (22-metre) vessel series developed for research and survey applications across multiple agencies.
The vessel’s dynamic hydrofoil system allows the captain to adjust foil lift and drag at the touch of a button. Teknicraft said this permits lift to be optimised for light loading, substantial mission loads and different sea states. The foil-supported hull reduces drag and fuel consumption while improving passenger comfort under varied conditions.
Propulsion is provided by two Scania DI16-082M diesel engines, each rated at 588 kW (790 hp) at 2,100 rpm, driving twin fixed-pitch propellers. The engines meet US EPA Tier III requirements, while construction of the vessel itself complied with US Coast Guard Subchapter T standards.
Osprey can reach a cruising speed of 22 knots while surveys will be conducted at 1.5 knots. The vessel carries 5,700 litres (1,500 gallons) of fuel, which can ensure a range of just over 500 nautical miles.
Full survey and analysis fitout for a range of marine environments
Jay Styron, UNCW’s Marine Operations Associate Director and Osprey's captain, said that the vessel’s area of operations will include the Gulf Stream, which is about 50 to 80 miles (80 to 130 kilometres) off the coast.
The scientific equipment installed aboard comprises a fixed WASSP multibeam sonar system and a Kongsberg acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). The multibeam system provides a survey capability for seabed and habitat mapping.
Osprey is also equipped for surveys using sub-bottom profilers, magnetometers, and side-scan systems. Connections for geophysical equipment allow mission-specific systems to be brought on board alongside the permanently installed instruments.
The navigation installation features a radar, a loudhailer, a VHF radio, an AIS, and a single-beam sonar. A forward-looking infrared camera is also fitted. UNCW said the navigation system is designed to integrate with scientific instruments during cruises.
The wet laboratory provides a climate-controlled space for handling samples soon after collection. Facilities include those for refrigeration, deep-freeze storage and chemical storage as well as microscopes. The laboratory also has running seawater and freshwater.
The separate dry laboratory accommodates computing and data analysis, with scientific servers, monitors, wifi and connections for geophysical survey equipment. Researchers can monitor both the built-in and overboard systems, including the ADCP and multibeam installation.
Styron said the vessel’s additional stability and speed will enable researchers to conduct experiments offshore while collaborating with their landside counterparts.
The broad aft deck provides working space for scientific equipment and deployment operations. UNCW specified a deck crane and an A-frame rated for 2.27 tonnes to supporting the vessel’s role in deploying and recovering oceanographic instrumentation and moorings.
Working deck optimised for data gathering
The mission infrastructure also supports diving and the deployment and recovery of remotely operated vehicles and autonomous underwater vehicles. Monitoring marine mammals, deploying trawl nets, and sampling water and sediment are among the biological and environmental operations that the vessel can support, thanks in part to the deck layout.
Liveaboard accommodation and other facilities are provided for up to 10 personnel. There are 10 bunks, a galley, and two toilets with showers. Teknicraft specified a five-day endurance with a complement of 10 and an 800-litre (200-gallon) freshwater capacity.
Styron said that Osprey will help improve geophysical work to identify offshore sand deposits sought for beach nourishment. He also identified monitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and retrieval of oceanographic buoys as intended applications.
